Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Car keeps going into limp mode. The VTM and VSA light flash on and the car will not accelerate. Happens at different occasions. It has happenstance while driving on highway and I'm traffic. The only way to reset is to cut car off and turn on. Sometimes, it doesn't work with that and you have to sit and wait. It has been checked but no one see no faults and it's never on the dashboard if you cut off then cut back on. This is becoming a huge risk when driving with children and family. Also, electrical issues has been going on and no one can figure out. Have been looked at and even quoted for new pets but no fox for why the electrical is not working. One side of car has no electric and nobody knows why. My car was taken apart and still no fix for electric. This effects the passenger side windows and turn signals. …
The Vehicle Stability Assit (VSA) system in activating inappropriately causing the vehicle to brake unexpectedly. There is a Honda Service Bulletin (13-026) for this problem for 2005 Honda Pilots. Well, the same problem is happening to my 2006 Pilot.
This is the exact issue that the 2005 Honda Pilot has with its vsa the recall for this is NHTSA recall # 10694296 with over 625 complaints. As everyone describes after one mile of driving the vsa will come on if you attempt to accelerate when on it will engage the brakes but not fully so it shutters and RPM soar but you go no where causing daily near miss accidents. Honda dealers acknowledge this module is the issue but due to the 2006 not being on the govt recall list they will not repair or replace you have to pay to have it done at a cost of 1650.00. The Honda mechanic showed me the whitepaper Honda has on how to replace this module and the issue it creates but unwilling to stand behind repairing it for free only offer a 125.00 discount on the repair. So im clear 1. Vsa light comes on stays on and vsa switch will not turn this function off as it is designed to. 2. …
Voice commands shutting radio off putting radio on air on air off asking to repeat .dashboard lights going haywire lost all electrical to dashboard instruments car started vibrating while driving replaced battery and alternator and battery light flashing on and off but battery and alternator testing fine car accelerates on own with cruise set all this happened while I was driving on a city street. Car accelerated on own while I was driving on highwy doing 65 my I had to apply brakes and shut down cruise. Had computer tested to see if anything wrong had computer checked to see whats wrong with engine indicated no codes everything fine. Also while making a turn steering wheel locks up but everything OK with power steering fluids. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact was driving 25 MPH when the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact stated that the failure would occur sporadically and on numerous occasions. The failure caused the contact to be involved in two crashes. The contact was uninjured yet the air bags did not deploy in either crash. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealer who was unable to locate a failure within the vehicle. The contact stated there were other complaints regarding the sudden acceleration and the manufacturer was not taking responsibility for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact was attempting to enter a residential driveway traveling 5 MPH when the vehicle suddenly accelerated causing her to crash into her home. After the crash, the contact noticed that the cruise control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was awaiting the results of diagnostic testing. The current and failure mileage was 45,000.
I was driving at 30 MPH my Honda Pilot 2006 when suddenly the truck accelerated on its own , that was truly surprising to me , the speed was over 100mph , I remember stepping on the brake and the truck did not stop , I remain shocked and I could not react, everything happened in seconds and I was trying not to kill someone I lost the control and crashed into a big metal pole.
Today while driving my 2006 Pilot, I was going approximately 33mph. The vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. It was very quick, almost like a lunge. I hit the break and it did slow the vehicle. The strange thing about this is, this happened to me two other times that I can recall. It hasn't happened in quite a while but I've owned this vehicle for 3 years, 9 months, and it was sometime during that time period. I never had it checked out because it had only happened twice and from experience, if you bring it to the dealer, unless it does it for them, they can't diagnose it. I never even thought about this having happened, even with the Toyota recalls, until it did it to me again today. The road conditions were wet, however I was not going through a puddle at the time. I was not braking. I was maintaining my speed. …
On dec 4,2007 I took my 2006 Honda Pilot to a Honda dealership in winnipeg mb Canada for engine revving issues. I explained how when going to brake at an intersection the vehicle jolted ahead as the engine started to rev high- RPM greater that 4000 - and the speedometer needle was bouncing from top to bottom erratically. I was braking lowly at first but when this started I used two feet on the brakr to prevent me from hitting the car in front of me. It just finally stopped. It never happened again but with the Toyota recalls I wonder whether Honda has the same issues with their vehicles. Please report this occurrence for me. Notice: mileage on vehicle at the time was 38000 kilometers and the speed I was going was 50-60 km per hour. I couldn't adjust that in the following pages to reflect the metric system we use up here.
On three separate occasions over a two-day period, the vehicle momentarily brake hard when very light pressure was applied to the brake pedal. The vsa (vehicle stability assist) warning light came on when this occurred but did not stay illuminated after the vehicle was shut off and restarted. These incidents occurred December 23rd and 24th, 2013, and the temperature was approximately 20-30 degrees. No injuries occurred, but thankfully no other vehicles were behind us when it happened. This sounds like the same issue that the 2005 Honda pilots were recalled for, however, the local Honda dealership will not include my model in the recall and will therefore charge me for any fix that might occur.
Acceleration complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Honda Pilot, 7% of the model year's 268 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Honda Pilot acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2006 Honda Pilot, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Honda Pilot acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.